We Got the Look! Rocker Hair and Makeup

It is SO insanely fun to write CELEBSpiration stories for SELF -- especially when I get to talk to the amazing hair and makeup artists who create looks we love on the stars we adore most. (Or, in the...

You know what else is super fun? Testing the looks. Duh! And then having my friends test the look! So, I, along with the gorgeous JD and Rachel from SELF's web team, gave each style from this month's Rocker Hair and Makeup story a try so we could give you the behind-the-scenes scoop on each look.

The Verdict: “I loved trying this look because I adore Alicia. After first attempting to get my pixie cut really sleek like Ms. Keys, I realized my hair type (soft and fine) couldn’t really go 100 percent punk. So I doubled-down on the teasing and hairspray and got my hair to do a wavy version with a little volume. Glowy cheeks were an absolute must; I used cream blush to get a nice tint.”

The Verdict: “Usually, there’s nothing easier to pull off than a braid — it works just as well in the office as it does on the town. However, after several failed attempts with my baby-fine, just-washed strands, I need help to get the French braid portion of the style right. I recruited SELF’s beauty assistant, Amanda Downs, to help me complete the look. It feels fresh to have my strands off my face, but I felt I lost some volume at the crown and coulda use some teasing. And, well, bronzed skin is my signature beauty look, so I not only added some liquid tint to my moisturize, but also added definition by swiping a powder formula (right now I can’t get enough of Urban Decay’s Naked Flush Palette), plus a bit of highlighter to make my bone structure really pop.”

The Verdict: “T-Swift may personally drive me crazy (Girl needs a few gal pals to tell her what’s up with dating), but I love the shaggy hair-major liner combo. Granted, I don’t have bangs so I couldn’t rock the style full on, but — after digging my skinny flat iron out of the very back of my drawer — I totally j’adore-d the piecey layer thing she had going on. And, while the liner isn’t that much heavier than my usual night-out look, I loved amping it up with a pretty turquoise. So, will I cut my hair to be a T-Swift Twinsie? Nope. But I’ll totally use the look when I’m feeling a little more badass than beachy.”